Tuesday, April 26, 2011

minerals and energy resources

                                           Mode of Occurrence of Minerals
1 Marks points to remember
1. The earth’s crust is made up of different minerals embedded in the rocks.
2. Various metals are extracted from these minerals after proper refinement.
3. Minerals are an indispensable part of our lives. Almost everything we use, from
a tiny pin to a towering building or a big ship, all are made from minerals.
4. All living things need minerals and life processes cannot occur without minerals.
5. The hardest mineral is diamond and the softest is talc.
6. Geologists define mineral as a “homogenous, naturally occurring substance with
a definable internal structure.”
7. The physical and chemical condition under which the minerals are formed
makes is so varied.
8. Minerals are usually found in “ores”.
9. The term ore is used to describe an accumulation of any mineral mixed with
other elements.
10.The mineral content of the ore must be in sufficient concentration to make its
extraction commercially viable.
11.The cost of extraction depends on the type of formation or structure in which
minerals are found.
12.In north-east the coal mining is done by tribal family members in the form of a
long narrow tunnel, known as ‘Rat-hole’ mining.
Questions and Answers
Q.1 Describe the main types of formations in which the minerals occur.
Ans. Minerals generally occur in rocks of these forms:
i. In igneous and metamorphic rocks minerals occur in the veins and
the lodes. Major metallic minerals like tin, copper, zinc and lead etc. are
obtained from these veins and lodes.
ii. In sedimentary rocks minerals occur in layers. Coal and some forms of
iron ore are found like this. Minerals such as gypsum, potash salt and
sodium salt are formed as a result of evaporation especially in arid
regions.
iii. In the decomposed surface rocks (a residual mass of weathered
material) Bauxite is formed.
iv. In alluvial deposits or ‘placer deposits’ minerals which are not corroded
by water are found. Such as Gold, silver, tin and platinum.
v. In ocean floor vast quantities of manganese nodules are found.
Common salt, magnesium and bromine are largely derived from ocean
waters.
                                       Distribution of Minerals
1 Marks points to remember
1. Ferrous minerals account for about three-fourths of the total value of the
production of metallic minerals.
2. Iron ore is the basic mineral and the backbone of industrial development.
3. Magnetite ore has a very high content of iron up to 70 per cent.
4. Hematite iron ore is the largest used iron ore in India.
5. Hematite ore from Bailadila (hump of ox) mines are exported to Japan and
South Korea via Vishakapatnam port.
6. The Kudermukh (horse peak) mines located in Karnataka are a 100 per cent
export unit.
7. Kudremukh deposits are known to be one of the largest in the world.
8. This ore is transported from Kudremukh as slurry through a pipeline to a port
near Mangalore.
9. Iron ore from Goa are exported through Marmagao port.
10.Orissa is the largest producer of manganese ores in India.
11.The Balaghat mines in Madhya Pradesh produce more than half of India’s
copper.
12.Bauxite is formed by decomposition of rocks, leaving a residual mass of
weathered material.
13.Bauxite is a clay-like substance from which aluminium is obtained.
14.Orissa is the largest bauxite producing state in India.
15.Mica is a mineral made up of a series of plates or leaves. Mica sheets can be so
thin that a thousand can be layered into a sheet of a few centimeters high.
16.Jharkhand is the leading producer of Mica.
17.Limestone is the basic raw material for the cement industry and essential for
smelting iron ore in the blast furnace.
18.Mining activity is often called a “killer industry” due to high risks involved.
Questions and Answers
Q.2 Describe the distribution of minerals in India.
Ans. India is fortunate to have fairly rich and varied mineral resources.
i. In Peninsular plateau the reserves of coal, metallic minerals, mica and many
other non-metallic minerals are found.
ii. In the sedimentary rocks of Gujarat and Assam most of the petroleum deposits
are found.
iii. In Rajasthan reserves of many non-ferrous minerals are found.
iv. The alluvial plains of north India are almost devoid of economic minerals.
Q.3 Mention the factors which play an important role in affecting the economic
viability of a reserve.
Ans. The factors are:
i. The concentration of mineral in the ore,
ii. The ease of extraction
iii. Closeness to the market.
                                       Ferrous Minerals
                                              Iron Ore
Q.4 What are the two types of iron ore found in India?
Ans. India is rich in good quality iron ores.
i. Magnetite:
a. It is the finest iron ore.
b. It has a very high content of iron up to 70 per cent.
c. It has excellent magnetic qualities, especially valuable in the
electrical industry.
ii. Hematite:
a. This ore is the most important industrial iron ore.
b. It is the largest used iron ore in terms of the quantity.
c. It has slightly lower iron content than magnetite. (50-60 per
cent).
Q.5 Name five largest iron ore producing states of India.
Ans. The five largest iron producing states are Karnataka, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Goa
and Jharkhand.
Q.6 Describe the four major iron ore belts in India.
Ans. The four major iron ore belts are:
i. O rissa-Jharkhand belt: high grade hematite ore is found.
Important mines are Badampahar and Singbhum mines.
ii. D urg-Bastar belt lies in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra: Very high
grade hematites are found. Famous mine are Bailadila which
produces iron best suited for steel making.
iii. B ellary-Chitradurga-Chikmaglur-Tumkur belt in Karnataka has
large reserves of iron ore.
iv. M aharashtra-Goa belt includes the state of Goa and Ratnagiri
district of Maharashtra.
Manganese
Q.7 What are the uses of Manganese?
Ans. Manganese is mainly used in the manufacturing of steel and ferro-manganese
alloy. Nearly 10 kg of manganese is required to manufacture one tonne of steel.
It is also used in manufacturing bleaching powder, insecticides and paints.
Non-Ferrous Minerals
                                                                   Copper

Q.8 What are the uses of Copper?
Ans. India is critically deficient in the reserve and production of copper. Being
malleable, ductile and a good conductor, copper is mainly used in electrical
cables, electronics and chemical industries.
Q.9 Describe the three copper producing regions of India.
Ans. Copper is very low reserves and production of copper.
a. Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer of copper in India. The Balaghat
mines in Madhya Pradesh produce 52 per cent of India’s copper.
b. Rajasthan is the second largest producer of copper. The Khetri mines in
Rajasthan are famous.
c. Jharkhand, the Singbhum district of it is also has large reserves of
copper.
Bauxite (ore of Aluminium)
Q.10 What are the uses of Aluminium?
Ans. Aluminium is an important metal because it combines the strength of metals
such as iron, with extreme lightness and also with good conductivity and great
malleability. It is used in electrical industries, aircraft manufacturing industries,
utensils making, etc.
Non-Metallic Minerals
                                                                    Mica
Q.11 Why Mica is considered the most important mineral in electric and electronic
industries?
Ans. Due to its excellent di-electric strength, low power loss factor, insulating
properties and resistance to high voltage, mica is one of the most indispensable
minerals used in electric and electronic industries.
Hazards of Mining
Q.12 What are the impacts of mining on the health and the environment?
Ans. The impacts of mining on the health of the miners and the environment are:
i. The dust and noxious fumes inhaled by miners make them vulnerable to
pulmonary diseases.
ii. The risk of collapsing mine roofs, inundation and fires in coalmines are a
constant threat to miners.
iii. The water sources in the region get contaminated due to mining.
iv. Dumping of waste and slurry leads to degradation of land, soil, and increase in
stream and river pollution.
                                       CONSERVATION OF MINERALS
Q.14 Explain why the conservation of minerals is necessary.
Ans. Minerals are important for every country for its development and they need to
be conserved because:
a. Industry and agriculture depend upon minerals and the substances
manufactured from them.
b. Workable minerals are in insufficient quantities. (Just one per cent of
the earth’s crust)
c. We are rapidly consuming mineral resources that require millions of
years to be renewed.
d. The natural rate of replenishment is very small in comparison to the
present rates of consumption.
e. Mineral resources are finite and non-renewable.
f. Mineral deposits in our country will get exhausted in the future.
g. Due to decrease in good quality and they comes from great depths the
costs of mineral extraction is increasing.
Q.15 State how minerals can be conserved for the future generations.
Ans. Mineral conservation can be done by:
i. Use our mineral resources in a planned and sustainable manner.
ii. Improve technology to allow use of low grade ores at low costs.
iii. Recycle metals.
iv. Use scrap metals and other substitutes.
                                                    ENERGY RESOURCES
1 Marks points to remember
1. Energy can be generated from fuel minerals like coal, petroleum, natural
gas, uranium and from electricity.
2. More than 70 per cent energy requirement in rural households is met by
firewood and cattle dung cake.
3. Firewood is becoming difficult due to decreasing forest area.
4. Using dung cake is being discouraged because it consumes most valuable
manure which could be used in agriculture.
5. Coal is the most abundantly available and used fossil fuel.
6. Coal is formed due the compression of plant material over millions of years.
7. In India coal occurs in rock series of two main geological ages, namely
Gondwana (200 million years in age) and in tertiary deposits (55 million
years old).
8. Coal is a bulky material, which loses weight on use as it is reduced to ash.
Hence, heavy industries and thermal power station are located on or near
the coalfields.
9. Assam is the oldest oil producing state of India.
10.Natural gas is used as a source of energy as well as an industrial raw
material in the petrochemical industry.
11.The 1700 km long Hazira-Bijaipur-Jagdishpur (HBJ) gas pipeline from
Mumbai High and Bassien provide gas to the fertilizer, power and industrial
complexes in western and northern India.
12.The power and fertilizer industries are the key users of natural gas.
13.Per-capita consumption of electricity is considered as an index of
development.
14.Electricity is generated mainly in two ways: by hydro turbines to generate
hydro electricity; and by burning other fuels such as coal, petroleum and
natural gas to produce thermal power.
15.Uranium and thorium are available in Jharkhand and the Aravalli ranges of
Rajasthan.
16.The Monazite sand of Kerala is also rich in thorium.
17.Photovoltaic technology converts sunlight directly into electricity.
18.The largest solar plant of India is located at Madhapur, near Bhuj (Gujarat).
19.The largest wind farm cluster is located in Tamil Nadu from Nagarcoil to
Madurai.
20.The plants using cattle dung are known as ‘Gobar gas plants’ in rural India.
These provide twin benefits to the farmer in the form of energy and
improved quality of manure.
21.Oceanic tides can be used to generate electricity which is known as Tidal
energy.
22.In India, the Gulf of Kuchchh, provides ideal conditions for utilising tidal
energy.
23.Geothermal energy refers to the heat and electricity produced by using the
heat from the interior of the Earth.
Questions and Answers
Q.16 Differentiate between conventional and non-conventional sources of energy.
Ans. Energy resources can be classified as conventional and non-conventional
sources.
a. Conventional sources of energy are in use form the past whereas the nonconventional
sources are in use from recent times.
b. Conventional sources are mostly polluting in nature whereas nonconventional
sources are eco-friendly.
c. Conventional sources include: firewood, cattle dung cake, coal, petroleum,
natural gas and electricity (both hydel and thermal) whereas nonconventional
sources include solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, biogas and
atomic energy.
Conventional Sources of Energy
Coal:
Q.17 What is the importance of coal in India?
Ans. Coal is an important fossil fuel of India.
a. It provides about 80% of the nation’s energy needs.
b. It is used for power generation.
c. It is used to supply energy to industry as well as for domestic needs.
d. India is highly dependent on coal for meeting its commercial energy
requirements.
Q.18 Describe the four different types of coal found in India.
Ans. Coal is found in a variety of forms.
a. Peat: Decaying plants in swamps produce peat. It has a low carbon and high
moisture contents and low heating capacity.
b. Lignite is a low grade brown coal, which is soft with high moisture content. The
principal lignite reserves are in Neyveli in Tamil Nadu and are used for
generation of electricity.
c. Bituminous coal is buried deep and subjected to increased temperatures. It is
the most popular coal in commercial use.
d. Metallurgical coal is high grade bituminous coal which has a special value for
smelting iron in blast furnaces.
e. Anthracite is the highest quality hard coal.
Q.19 Mention two types of coal reserves found in India.
Ans. Coal in India is found in two geological structures:
i. Gondwana coal: which are metallurgical coal, are located in Damodar
valley (West Bengal-Jharkhand). Jharia, Raniganj, Bokaro coalfields.
ii. Tertiary coal: occur in the north eastern states of Meghalaya, Assam,
Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
Petroleum
Q.20 What are the uses of petroleum in India?
Ans. Petroleum is the next major energy source in India after coal.
i. It provides fuel for heat and lighting,
ii. It is used as lubricants for machinery
iii. It is raw materials for a number of manufacturing industries.
iv. Petroleum refineries act as a “nodal industry” for synthetic textile, fertiliser and
numerous chemical industries.
Q.21 Name important oil fields of India.
Ans. Mineral oil is produced from:
i. About 63 per cent of India’s petroleum production is from Mumbai High,
ii. 18 per cent comes from Gujarat and Ankeleshwar is the most important field
of Gujarat.
iii. 16 per cent from Assam. Digboi, Naharkatiya and Moran-Hugrijan are the
important oil fields in the state.
Natural Gas
Q.22 Name the natural gas fields of India.
Ans. Natural gas is found in:
i. Large reserves of natural gas have been discovered in the Krishna- Godavari
basin.
ii. Mumbai High and the Gulf of Cambay.
iii. Andaman and Nicobar islands are also important areas having large reserves of
natural gas.
Non-Conventional Sources of Energy
Q.23 State why the use of renewable especially non-conventional sources of energy
is becoming necessary in our country?
Ans. The use of non-conventional sources of energy is becoming necessary because:
i. The growing consumption of energy in the country has made us dependent on
fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.
ii. Rising prices of oil and gas has eroded our foreign currency reserves.
iii. Shortages in the supply of oil. Gas and coal have increased uncertainties about
the security of energy supply in future,
iv. The growth of the national economy is getting hampered by it.
v. Moreover, increasing use of fossil fuels also causes serious environmental
problems.
                                                     Solar Energy
Q.24 Why our country has large potential of using solar energy?
Ans. India is a tropical country. It receives abundant sunshine through out the year
with little cloud cover. Therefore, it has enormous possibilities of tapping solar energy.
Q.25 What are the immediate benefits of using solar energy in our country?
Ans. The benefits are:
i. Solar energy is fast becoming popular in rural and remote areas.
ii. Solar energy is used to sterlise milk cans.
iii. Use of solar energy will be able to minimise the dependence of rural
households on firewood and dung cakes,
iv. Solar energy thus will contribute to environmental conservation and adequate
supply of manure in agriculture.
                                                                 Biogas
Q.26 What is biogas energy?
Ans. Bio gas is produced from shrubs, farm waste, animal and human wastes. It is
mostly used for domestic consumption in rural areas. Decomposition of organic
matter yields gas, which has higher thermal efficiency in comparison to
kerosene, dung cake and charcoal.
Q.27 What are the benefits of using biogas in rural areas of our country?
Ans. Gobargas and biogas provide many benefits to the farmer:
i. They provide energy to household.
ii. They provide good quality of manure.
iii. Biogas is by far the most efficient use of cattle dung.
iv. It also prevents the loss of trees and manure due to burning of fuel wood and
cow dung cakes.
Conservation of Energy Resources
Q.28 Explain why there is urgent need to conserve energy resources in India.
Ans. Energy resources are very essential for the economic development of India.
a. Every sector of the national economy – agriculture, industry, transport,
commercial and domestic – needs inputs of energy.
b. The success of economic development plans depend on energy
resources.
c. Consumption of energy in all forms has been steadily rising all over the
country.
d. India is presently one of the least energy efficient countries in the world.
Q.29 Mention steps to conserve energy resources in India.
Ans. Energy resources must be judiciously used because our energy resources are
limited.
a. We must use public transport systems instead of individual vehicles;
b. Switching off electricity when not in use,
c. Using power-saving devices and
d. Using non-conventional sources of energy.

Life Lines of National Economy

                                                       Life Lines of National Economy
1· The movement of goods and services from their supply locations to demand locations
necessitates the need for transport.
2· The major objective of these Super Highways is to reduce the time and distance between the
mega cities of India.
3· Super highway projects are being implemented by the National Highway Authority of India
(NHAI)
4· Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways links Delhi-Kolkata-Chennai-Mumbai and
Delhi.
5· The North-South corridors links Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir) and Kanyakumari
(Tamil Nadu)
6· East-West Corridor connects Silcher (Assam) and Porbander (Gujarat)
7· National highways are maintained by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD)
8· The historical Sher- Shah Suri Marg is called National Highway No.1, between Delhi and
Amritsar.
9· The National Highway 7 between Varanasi and Kanyakumari is the longest highway of India.
10· The national highway 2 is between Delhi and Kolkata.
11· The national highway 3 is between Agra and Mumbai.
12· The national highway 8 is between Delhi and Mumbai.
13· The national highway 15 passes from Rajasthan.
14· State highways are constructed and maintained by the State Public Works Department (PWD)
15· District roads are maintained by the Zila Parishad.
16· Under Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana scheme every village in the country
is to be linked to a major town by an all season motorable road.
17· Border Roads Organisation (BRO) constructs and maintains border roads.
18· The length of road per 100 sq. km of area is known as density of roads.
19· Road density is lowest in Jammu and Kashmir (10 Km)
20· Road density is highest in Kerala (375 Km)
21· National average of road density is 75 Km.
22· The first train steamed off from Mumbai to Thane in 1853.
23· The largest public sector undertaking is Indian Railways.
24· The Konkan railway has been developed along the west coast.
25· Indian railways have been organized into 16 zones.
26· Oil refineries could be located away from oil fields because of pipelines.
27· Fertilizer plants could be located in the interiors because of pipelines.
28· India has a coastline of 7,516.6 km, 12 major ports, and these ports handle 95 percent of India’s foreign trade.
29· Kandla is a tidal port, first port developed soon after Independence, developed to
reduce the pressure of Mumbai port.
30· Mumbai is the biggest natural harbour port of our country.
31· The Jawaharlal Nehru port was developed to decongest the Mumbai port.
32· Marmagao port is the main iron ore exporting port, (50% of iron is exported).
33· New Mangalore port export iron ore from Kudremukh mines.
34· Kochi is lagoon natural harbour.
35· Tuticorin port is a natural harbor, trade with Sri Lanka, Maldives is carried from this port.
36· Chennai is the 2nd largest and oldest artificial port.
37· Vishakhapatnam is the deepest landlocked port, developed for iron ore exports.
38· Paradip port (Orissa) exports iron ore.
39· Kolkata is an inland riverine port, a tidal port, at Hoogly River.
40· Haldia port developed as a subsidiary port, to reduce pressure on the Kolkata port.
41· Pawanhans Helicopters Ltd. provides helicopter services to Oil and Natural Gas Commission.
42· Pawanhans Helicopters Ltd. also provides helicopter services in inaccessible and difficult
terrains like the north-eastern states and the interior parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh and Uttaranchal.
43· Air India provides international air services.
44· Indian airlines also provide services to neighbouring countries of Asia.
45· The First class mail includes Cards and envelopes; they are airlifted between stations covering both land and air.
46· The second–class mail includes book packets, registered newspapers and
periodicals. They are carried by surface mail, covering land and water transport.
47· In order to strengthen the flow of information from the grassroot to the higher level
government is providing STD facilities to every village of our country.
48· Doordarshan is the national television channel of India. It is one of the largest
terrestrial networks in the world.
49· The largest numbers of newspapers published in the country are in Hindi, followed
by English and Urdu.
50· India is the largest producer of feature films in the world.
51· The Central Board of Film Certification is the authority to certify both Indian and foreign films.
52· The exchange of goods among people, states and countries is referred to as trade.
53· The market is the place where such exchanges take place.
54· Trade between two countries is called international trade.
55· Exports and imports are the two component of international trade.
56· The difference between export and import is known as balance of trade.
57· If the value of exports is more than the value of imports, it is called favourable
balance of trade.
58· If the value of imports is more than the value of exports, it is called un-favourable
balance of trade.
59· The share of Petroleum products have increased largest in our exports.
60· The share of coal, coke and briquettes has increased largest in our imports.
61· The export of Information technology is grater than the exports of goods.
62· Rajasthan, Goa, Jammu and Kashmir and temple towns of south India are
important destinations of foreign tourists in India.
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Q.1 “Efficient means of transport and communication has converted the world into a large village”.
Explain this statement with the help of examples.
OR
Explain why the means of transport and communication are called lifelines of our national
economy?
OR
Explain why a dense and efficient network of transport and communication is a pre-requisite
for local, national and global trade of today.
Ans.
a. Through transport and communication we are well-linked with the rest of the world
b. India is united despite its vast size, diversity and linguistic and socio-cultural plurality.
c. Railways, airways, water ways, newspapers, radio, television, cinema and internet, etc. have
been contributing to India’s socio-economic progress in many ways.
d. The trades from local to international levels have added to the strength of our economy.
e. It has enriched our life and added amenities and facilities for the comforts of life.
OR
a. They help in increasing cooperation and assistance between countries by easy
movement of goods and material between countries.
b. They help in trade and commerce within country.
c. They have reduced distances thus bringing the world closer.
d. They help in both production and distribution of goods and movement of large
number of people and over long distance.
e. They provide important links between producers and consumers of goods.
f. They bring people very close to one another by promoting interdependence among
people.
Roadways
Q.2 Why the importance of road transport vis-à-vis rail transport is growing in India?
Ans. In India, roadways have preceded railways. The growing importance of road
transport is due to the following reasons –
i. Construction cost of roads is much lower than that of railway lines,
ii. Roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and undulating topography, R
iii. Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slopes and as such can traverse
mountains such as the Himalayas,
iv. Road transport is economical in transportation of few persons and relatively
smaller amount of goods over short distances,
v. It also provides door-to-door service, thus the cost of loading and unloading is
much lower,
vi. Road transport is also used as a feeder to other modes of transport such as they
provide a link between railway stations, air and sea ports.
Q.3 Name Six classes of roads in India according to their capacity.
Ans. The six classifications of roads in India are:
i. Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways
ii. National Highways
iii. State Highways
iv. District Roads
v. Other Roads
vi. Border Roads
Q.4 What are super highways? Name 3 major super highway projects.
Ans. Super highways are six lane highways connecting major cities and ports of the
country for speedy movement of goods and passengers. They are developed by
NHAI for reducing time and distance.
3 super highways are:
1) Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways: It links Delhi-Kolkata-Chennai-
Mumbai and Delhi by six-lane Super Highways.
2) The North-South corridors linking Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir) and
Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu)
3) East-West Corridor connecting Silcher (Assam) and Porbander (Gujarat)
Q.5 What are national highways?
Ans. National highways link all major cities of extreme parts of the country. These are
the primary road systems. They are maintained by the Central Public Works
Department (CPWD).
Q.6 What are state highways?
Ans. Roads linking a state capital with different district headquarters are known as State
Highways. These roads are constructed and maintained by the State Public Works
Department (PWD) in State and Union Territories.
Q.7 What are district roads?
Ans. Roads which connects the district headquarters with other places of the district are
called district roads. These roads are maintained by the Zila Parishad.
Q.8 What are rural roads?
Ans. Roads which link rural areas and villages with towns are classified as rural roads.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana scheme special provisions are
made so that every village in the country is linked to a major town in the country
by an all season motorable road.
Q.9 What are border roads? Mention its two importances.
Ans. Strategically important roads in the bordering areas of the country are called border
roads. These roads are in the northern and northeastern border areas.
Importance of Border roads: -
1) Border roads have improved accessibility in areas of difficult terrain.
2) They have helped in the economic development of border areas.
3) Used to supply military equipments to the borders of our country.
Q.10 State any four problems of Road transport in the country.
Ans. Major problems are:
i. Road transportation in India is inadequate keeping in view the volume of
traffic and passengers.
ii. About half of the roads are un-mettal and this limits their usage during
the rainy season.
iii. The National Highways are inadequate too.
iv. Moreover, the roadways are highly congested in cities
v. Most of the bridges and culverts are old and narrow.
Railways
Q.11 Describe the importance of Railways in India.
Ans. Indian Railways has been
i. The principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India.
ii. Suitable for long distance travel.
iii. Conduct of multiple activities like business, sightseeing, and pilgrimage along with
transportation of goods.
iv. Plays an important role of national integration.
v. Bind the economic life of the country as well as accelerate the development of the
industry and agriculture.
vi. The largest public sector undertaking in the country.
Q.12 Describe the factors which influence the distribution pattern of Railway network in
India.
Ans. The distribution pattern of the Railway network in the country has been largely
influenced by physiographic, economic and administrative factors.
i. The density railway network is high in the northern plains because they are
vast level land, have high population density and rich agricultural resources.
But, a large number of rivers create obstacles because it requires
construction of bridges across their wide beds.
ii. In the hilly terrains of the peninsular region, railway tracts are laid through
low hills, gaps or tunnels therefore it difficult to construct railway lines.
iii. The Himalayan mountainous regions are unfavourable for the construction of
railway lines due to high relief, sparse population and lack of economic opportunities.
iv. It is difficult to lay railway lines on the sandy plain of western Rajasthan,
swamps of Gujarat, forested tracks of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand.
v. Sinking of track in some areas and land slides makes it difficult for railways.
Q.13 Mention some of the problems faced by the Indian Railways.
Ans. Rail transport in our country suffer from certain problems such as -
i. Many passengers travel without tickets.
ii. Thefts and damaging of railway property has not yet stopped completely.
iii. People stop the trains, pull the chain unnecessarily and this causes heavy damage
to the railway.
Pipelines
Q.14 Describe the importance of Pipelines in India.
Ans. Pipelines are important for -
i. They are used for transporting crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas from
oil fields and natural gas fields to refineries, fertilizer factories and big thermal
power plants.
ii. Solids can also be transported through a pipeline when converted into slurry.
iii. Because of pipelines, refineries at Barauni, Mathura, Panipat and gas based
fertilizer plants, could be located in the interiors of India.
iv. Initial cost of laying pipelines is high but subsequent running costs are minimal.
v. Pipelines rules out trans-shipment (during transportation) losses or delays.
Q.15 Name three important networks of pipeline transportation in the country.
Ans. The 3 important network of pipelines are -
i. Pipeline from oil field in upper Assam to Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh).
ii. Pipeline from Salaya in Gujarat to Jalandhar in Punjab,
iii. Pipeline from Hazira in Gujarat to Jagdishpur in Uttar Pradesh.
Waterways
Q.16 Mention the importance of water transport.
Ans. Water transport is important for -
i. Waterways are the cheapest means of transport.
ii. They are most suitable for carrying heavy and bulky goods.
iii. It is a fuel-efficient and environment friendly mode of transport.
Q.17 Name three National Waterways of our country.
Ans. The 3 National waterways are -
i. The Ganga river between Allahabad and Haldia (1620 km)-N.W. No.1
ii. The Brahmaputra river between Sadiya and Dhubri (891 km)-N.W. No.2
iii. The West-Coast Canal in Kerala (Kottapurma-Komman, Udyogamandal and
Champakkara canals-205 km) – N.W. No.3
Airways
Q.18 Mention the importance of airways.
Ans. The importance of airways is -
i. It is the fastest, most comfortable and prestigious mode of transport.
ii. It can cover very difficult terrains like high mountains, dreary deserts, and dense
forests.
iii. It can also cover long oceanic stretches with great ease.
iv. Airways have made access easier in the north-eastern part of the country which has
big rivers, dissected relief, dense forests and frequent floods and international
frontiers.
Communication
Q.19 Name six mail channels introduced by Indian postal network.
Ans. Six mail channels for quick delivery of mails in large towns and cities:
i. Rajdhani Channel,
ii. Metro Channel,
iii. Green Channel,
iv. Business Channel,
v. Bulk Mail Channel
vi. Periodical Channel.
Q.20 Mention the importance of mass communication.
Ans. The importances of mass communications are -
i. Mass communication provides entertainment.
ii. They create awareness among people about various national programmes and
policies.
iii. They provide variety of programmes in national, regional and local languages for
various categories of people, spread over different parts of the country.
iv. They strengthen democracy in the country by providing news and information to
the masses.
v. They help in rural development which is suffering from illiteracy and superstitious
social practices.
vi. It helps in agriculture sector by helping farmers by providing them information
about new agricultural practices.
International Trade
Q.21 Define international trade. Why it is considered as economic barometer of a country?
Ans. International trade is defined as the exchange of goods and services between two
or more countries.
It is also considered as economic barometer because
a. Advancement in international trade of a country leads to economic
prosperity.
b. Income earned from international trade constitutes a major part in the net
national income.
c. Large international trade leads to revival of domestic economy.
Q.22 Define balance of trade. Distinguish between favourable balance of trade and unfavourable
balance of trade.
Ans. The difference between export and import is known as balance of trade.
Difference between favourable and unfavourable balance of trade:
a. If the value of exports is more than the value of imports, it is called
favourable balance of trade. And if the value of imports is greater than
the value of exports it is known as unfavourable balance of trade.
b. Favourable balance of trade is regarded good for the economic
development where as unfavourable balance of trade is seen harmful for
the domestic economy.
Q.23 Name major commodities which India import and export.
Ans.
i. Major Exports:
a. Gems and jewellery.
b. Agriculture and allied products.
c. Petroleum products.
d. Ores and Minerals
e. Chemical products.
f. Engineering goods.
ii. Major Imports:
a. Petroleum and petroleum products such as crude oil, natural gas, synthetic
raw materials.
b. Pearls and precious stone
c. Inorganic chemicals
d. coal, coke and briquettes
e. Machinery
Tourism as a Trade
Q.24 Mention the importance of tourism as a trade.
Ans. The importance is -
i. Our country earns foreign exchange through Tourism.
ii. More than 15 million people are directly engaged in the tourism industry.
iii. Tourism also promotes national integration,
iv. It provides support to local handicrafts and cultural pursuits.
v. It also helps in the development of international understanding about our culture and heritage.
vi. Heritage tourism, eco tourism, adventure tourism, cultural tourism, medical
tourism and business tourism promotes development of all sectors of economy.

SOCIAL STUDIES.(Manufacturing Industries Chapter 6)

                                               Manufacturing Industries Chapter 6
                                                        points to remember..
1. Production of goods in large quantities after processing from raw materials to more
valuable products is called manufacturing.
2. Public sector industries were set up to eradicate unemployment, poverty and bring
down regional disparities from our country.
3. Manufacturing sector contributes 17 % of GDP.
4 In order to compete in the international market our industry needs to be more
efficient, competitive and produce good quality goods.
5. The most dominant factor of industrial location is the least cost.
6· Many industries tend to come together to make use of the advantages offered by
the urban centres known as agglomeration economies.
7· The main objective of the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council (NMCC)
is to achieve the desired 12% growth rate and improve industrial productivity.
8· The first successful cotton textile mill was established in Mumbai in 1854.
9· India exports yarn to Japan. India exports cotton goods to U.S.A., U.K. and Russia.
10· India is the second largest exporter of jute products after Bangladesh.
11· The first jute mill was set up near Kolkata in 1859.
12· The National Jute Policy was formulated in 2005 to increase productivity, quality,
good prices and the yield of jute.
13· The growing global concern for environment friendly, biodegradable materials has
once again opened the opportunity for jute products.
14· India is the second largest producer of sugar in the world.
15· The sugar industry is seasonal in nature so, it is ideally suited to the cooperative
sector.
16· The iron and steel Industry is called the basic industry because all the other
industries depend on it for their machinery.
17· Iron and steel is called a heavy industry because all the raw materials as well as
finished goods are heavy and bulky. It involves heavy transportation costs.
18· The raw material needed to produce the steel are Iron ore, coking coal and lime
stone in the ratio of approximately 4: 2: 1. And some quantities of Manganese.
19· India ranks ninth among the world crude steel producers.
20· All public sector undertakings market their steel through, Steel Authority of India
Ltd. (SAIL).
21· In 2004 India was the largest exporter of steel in the world.
22· To produce one ton of Aluminium 4 to 6 tons of bauxite is needed.
23· Aluminium smelting is the second most important metallurgical industry in India.
24· Cryolite is a molten metal which is used as an electrolyte to produce Aluminium.
25· 18,600 Kwh of electricity is needed to produce 1 ton of Aluminium.
26· The chemical industry is its own largest consumer.
27· Fertiliser Corporation of India (FCI) in Hazira Gujarat is the only fertilizer plant in
cooperative sector.
28· Fertilizer industry expanded after the introduction of Green Revolution.
29· The cement industry is concentrated in Gujarat because it has suitable access to the
market in the Gulf countries for the export of cement.
30· The first cement plant was set up in Chennai in 1904.
31· Bangalore city is known as the electronic capital of India.
32· The software technology parks provide single window service and high data
communication facility to software experts.
33· Industries are responsible for four types of pollution: Air, Water, Land and Noise.
34· Every litre of waste water discharged by our industry pollutes eight times the
quantity of freshwater.
                                                  ( question and answer)
Q.1 “The economic strength of a country is measured by the development of
manufacturing industries”. Justify this statement with four examples.
ans i. Manufacturing industries help in modernizing agriculture;
ii. They also reduce the heavy dependence of people on agricultural income by
providing them jobs.
iii. Industrial development reduces unemployment and poverty:
iv. It also brings down regional disparities.
v. Export of manufactured goods expands trade and commerce, and brings foreign
exchange.
vi. Prosperity of our country depends on transforming raw materials into furnished
goods of higher value and diversifying our industries.
vii. Industrial sector contributes 27 % of GDP and manufacturing contributes 17 % of
GDP.
Q.2 “Agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other. They move hand in hand.”
Justify this statement with 4 examples.
Ans. The agro-industries in India have given a major boost to agriculture -
i. Agro-based industries have given a boost to agriculture by raising its productivity.
ii. Agro-based industries depend on the agriculture for their raw materials such as
cotton, sugarcane, jute etc.
iii. Agriculture depends on industries for products such as irrigation pumps, fertilizers,
insecticides, pesticides, machines and tools, etc.
iv. Industrial development helps agriculture in increasing their production and make
production processes very efficient.
Q.3 Which factor plays the most dominant role in the ideal location of an industry?
Explain any three reasons in support of this factor.
Ans. The most dominant factor of industrial location is the least cost.
i. Cost of obtaining raw materials at site: Manufacturing activity tends to locate
at the most appropriate place where all the raw materials of production are either
available or can be arranged at lower cost.
ii. Cost of production at site: These are influenced by availability of labour, capital,
power, etc. Thus industrial location is influenced by the costs of availability of these
factors of production.
iii. Cost of distribution of production: The distance of industry from market
influence the transportation costs. Transportation costs influence the cost of
distribution of production.
Q.4 Explain the any 4 factors which influences the location of an industry.
Ans. Industries maximize profits by reducing costs therefore industries are located where
the costs are minimum. The factors influencing are:
i. Access to Market:
Areas/regions having high purchasing power provide large market therefore
such as luxury items producing industries are located in these regions.
ii. Access to Raw Material:
Raw material used by industries should be cheap and easy to transport.
a. E.g. Industries based on cheap, bulky and weight-losing material (ores) are
located close to the sources of raw material such as steel, sugar, and cement
industries.
b. E.g. Industries using perishable raw material are located closer to the source of
the raw material such as Agro-processing and dairy industries.
iii. Access to Labour Supply: Some types of manufacturing require skilled labour
therefore IT industries are located near urban-educational centres where skilled
labours are easily available.
iv. Access to Sources of Energy: Industries which use more power are located close
to the source of the energy supply such as the aluminium industry.
v. Access to Transportation and Communication Facilities:
Speedy and efficient transport facilities reduce the cost of transport. Therefore
industries are attracted in regions having good transport facilities.
vi. Government Policy: Governments adopt ‘regional policies’ to promote ‘balanced’
economic development and hence set up industries in backward and tribal areas.
vii. Access to Agglomeration Economies: Many industries takes benefit from
nearness to a leader-industry and other industries.
Q.5 Why do industries tend to locate themselves near cities or urban centres?
Ans. Some industries tend to locate near urban centres because of:
i. Some cities provide markets to the industrial products,
ii. Cities also provide services such as banking, insurance, consultants and financial
advice, transport, labour, etc. to the industry.
iii. Cities or urban centres provide benefits of agglomeration economies.
iv. Coastal Urban places help in overseas trade.
Classification of industries:
On the basis of source of raw materials used:
i. Agro based: cotton, woollen, jute, silk textile, rubber and sugar, tea, coffee,
edible oil.
ii. Mineral based: iron and steel, cement, aluminium, machine tools,
petrochemicals.
On the basis of their main role:
i. Basic or key industries which supply their products as raw materials to
manufacture other goods e.g. iron and steel and copper smelting, aluminum
smelting.
ii. Consumer industries that produce goods for direct use by consumers – sugar,
toothpaste, paper, sewing machines, fans etc.
On the basis of capital investment:
i. Small scale industry: having rupees one crore as the maximum investment on
the assets of a unit.
ii. Large scale industry: If investment is more than one crore on any industry.
On the basis of ownership:
i. Public sector: owned and operated by government agencies – BHEL, SAIL etc.
ii. Private sector industries owned and operated by individuals or a group of
individuals –TISCO, Bajaj Auto Ltd., Dabur Industries.
iii. Joint sector industries which are jointly run by the state and individuals or a
group of individuals. Oil India Ltd. (OIL) is jointly owned by public and private
sector.
iv. Cooperative sector industries are owned and operated by the producers or
suppliers of raw materials, workers or both. They pool in the resources and
share the profits or losses proportionately such as the sugar industry in
Maharashtra, the coir industry in Kerala.
Based on the bulk and weight of raw material and finished goods:
i. Heavy industries such as iron and steel
ii. Light industries that use light raw materials and produce light goods such as
electrical industries.
Q.6 Why the textile industry occupies unique position in the Indian economy?
Ans. The significance of textile industry in India can be judged by
i. It contributes 14 percent to industrial production.
ii. It provides and generates employment for 35 million persons directly.
iii. It earns 25 per cent of foreign exchange.
iv. It contributes 4 per cent towards GDP.
v. It is the only industry in the country, which is self-reliant and complete in the value
chain i.e., from raw material to the highest value added products.
Cotton Textiles:
Q.7 Why in early years the cotton textile industry was concentrated in the states of
Gujarat and Maharashtra?
Ans. In the early years, the cotton textile industry was concentrated in the Gujarat and
Maharashtra because of:
a. Maharashtra and Gujarat are traditional cotton growing belt of India. Raw cotton
is available from nearby areas thus reducing the cost of obtaining raw material
at site.
b. Urban cetres of these states offer large market to cotton products,
c. Transport including accessible port facilities help in reducing costs,
d. Abundant labour from nearby densely populated region,
e. Moist climate due to nearness to Arabian sea help in industrial production.
Q.8 State the importance of cotton textile industry in India.
Ans.
i. Cotton textile industry has close links with agriculture.
ii. It provides a living to farmers, cotton boll pluckers.
iii. It provides income to workers engaged in ginning, spinning, weaving, dyeing,
designing, packaging, tailoring and sewing.
iv. This industry creates demands and supports many other industries, such as,
chemicals and dyes, mill stores, packaging materials and engineering works.
v. India exports yarn to Japan and other cotton goods to U.S.A., U.K., and Russia.
Q.9 Differentiate between spinning and weaving sectors of cotton textiles industries in
India.
Ans. Spinning and weaving are the two important component of cotton textile industry:
i. While spinning continues to be centralized in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu,
weaving is highly decentralized in other states.
ii. India has world class production and quality in spinning, but weaving supplies low
quality of fabric because they are fragmented small units.
iii. Our spinning mills are competitive at the global level but the weaving, knitting
units produce textile for local market.
iv. Yarn produced in spinning sector is exported to Japan while weaving sector can not
use this high quality yarn produced therefore they import fabric.
v. The share international trade of yarn produced in spinning sector (25%) is much
larger than the trade of cotton garments (4%).
Q.10 Mention the major drawbacks and problems of cotton textile industry in India.
Ans. Cotton textile industry in India suffers from some problems:
i. India has world class production and quality in spinning, but weaving supplies low
quality of fabric because they are fragmented small units. This mismatch is major
drawback.
ii. Many of our spinners export cotton yarn while apparel/garment manufactures have
to import fabric.
iii. Although we the production of staple cotton has increased but we still need to
import good quality staple cotton.
iv. Cotton textile industries face the problem of erratic Power supply which decreases
the labour productivity.
v. Machinery needs to be upgraded in the weaving and processing sectors in
particular.
vi. Output of labour is low due to poor machines and power supply.
vii. There is a Stiff competition with the synthetic fibre industry.
Jute Textiles
Q.11 Why most of our jute mills are located along the banks of the Hugli River in West
Bengal?
Ans. Factors responsible for their location in the Hugli basin are:
i. Proximity of the jute producing areas,
ii. Inexpensive water transport,
iii. Support of a good network of railways, roadways and waterways to facilitate
movement of raw material to the mills,
iv. Abundant water for processing raw jute,
v. Cheap labour from West Bengal and adjoining states of Bihar, Orissa and Uttar
Pradesh.
vi. Kolkata as a large urban centre provides banking, insurance and port facilities for
export of jute goods.
Q.12 State the importance of jute textile industry in India.
Ans. The Jute industry
i. The jute industry supports 2.61 lakh workers directly.
ii. It also supports another 40 lakhs small and marginal farmers who are engaged in
cultivation of jute and mesta.
iii. India is the largest producer of raw jute and jute goods and stands at second place
as an exporter after Bangladesh.
Q.13 What are the challenges faced by the jute industry in India?
Ans. Challenges faced by the industry are:
i. Stiff competition in the international market from synthetic substitutes.
ii. Stiff competition from other competitors like Bangladesh, Brazil, Philippines, Egypt
and Thailand.
iii. The internal demand needs to be increased; however it has increased recently due
to the Government policy of mandatory use of jute packaging.
iv. There is urgent need to increase the jute productivity and the quality.
v. The jute farmer needs to get good prices for their jute crops.
vi. The yield per hectare needs to be improved.
vii. To stimulate demand the jute products needs to be diversified.
Q.14 What are the objectives of the National Jute Policy formulated in 2005?
Ans. The National jute policy was formulated in 2005 for:
i. Increasing jute productivity,
ii. Improving its quality,
iii. Ensuring good prices for crops to the jute farmers
iv. Enhancing the yield per hectare of jute crops.
Q.15 Name any four countries to which we export Jute products.
Ans. The main markets are U.S.A., Canada, Russia, United Arab Republic, U.K. and
Australia.
Sugar Industry
Q.16 Explain why 60% of sugar mills are located in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Ans. Sugar industry is located in the sugarcane growing regions because:
i. The raw material (sugarcane) used in this industry is bulky and difficult to
transport at low costs.
ii. The sucrose content in the sugarcane reduces during its transportation.
iii. Cooler climates allows the longer crushing season.
iv. Sugar industry is ideally suited for cooperative sector because it’s a seasonal
industry.
v. Sugarcane grows well during hot and humid climates only.
Q.17 Why in recent years the sugar mills have shifted to southern and western states?
Ans. The sugar mills in recent years have shifted and concentrated in the southern and
western states, especially in Maharashtra, This is because -
i. The cane produced here has higher sucrose content.
ii. The cooler climate also ensures a longer crushing season.
iii. The cooperatives are more successful in these states.
Q.18 What are the major challenges faced by the sugar industry in India?
Ans. The major challenges include:
i. The seasonal nature of the industry,
ii. Old and inefficient methods of production,
iii. Transport delay in reaching cane to factories
iv. The need to maximize the use of baggase.
Iron and Steel Industry
Q.19 Explain why most the iron and steel industry are concentrated in Chotanagpur
plateau region.
Ans. Chotanagpur region has relative advantages such as:
i. This region is rich in the raw material needed to produce the steel such as iron ore,
coal, limestone, etc.
ii. These raw material are heavy and bulky therefore difficult and costly to transport to
the plant.
iii. This region has well connected railway lines which offer easy transportation of the
finished products for their distribution to the markets and consumers.
iv. This region gets its power supply from Damodar valley.
v. Availability of cheap labour from surrounding regions.
Q.20 Explain why India is not able to produce steel as per its full potential.
Ans. Though, India is an important iron and steel producing country in the world yet, we
are not able to perform to our full potential largely due to:
(a) High costs and limited availability of coking coal
(b) Lower productivity of labour
(c) Irregular supply of energy and
(d) Poor infrastructure.
Q.21 Give one point of difference between mini and integrated steel plants.
Ans. Mini steel plants are smaller, have electric furnaces, use steel scrap and sponge
iron. They produce mild and alloy steel of given specifications.
An integrated steel plant is large, handles everything in one complex – from putting
together raw material to steel making, rolling and shaping.
Aluminium Smelting
Q.22 Which characteristics of aluminium make it most important metal?
Ans. Aluminium smelting is the second most important metallurgical industry in India.
i. It is light, resistant to corrosion, a good conductor of heat, mallable and becomes
strong when it is mixed with other metals.
ii. It is used to manufacture aircraft, utensils and wires.
iii. It has gained popularity as a substitute of steel, copper, zinc and lead in a number
of industries.
Q.23 Mention two most important factors which influence the location of Aluminium
industry.
Ans. Bauxite, the raw material used in the industry is a very bulky.
i. Regular supply of electricity for electrolysis.
ii. Assured sources of raw material at minimum cost are the two prime factors for
location of the industry.
Chemical Industries
Q.24 Mention two types of chemical industries in India. Give four uses/examples of each.
Ans. Chemical industries consist of inorganic and organic chemicals.
i. Inorganic chemicals include sulphuric acid (used to manufacture fertilisers,
synthetic fibres, plastics, adhesives, paints, dyes stuffs), nitric acid, alkalies, soda
ash (used to make glass, soaps and detergents, paper) and caustic soda.
ii. Organic chemicals include petrochemicals, which are used for manufacturing of
synthetic fibers, synthetic rubber, plastics, dye-stuffs, drugs and pharmaceuticals.
Q.25 Why the organic chemical industries are located near oil refineries where as
inorganic chemical industries are spread all over India?
Ans. The organic chemical industries get their raw materials from byproducts of mineral
oil which is processed and refined at oil refineries therefore these industries are
located near oil refineries. Whereas the raw material for inorganic chemicals comes
from other sources therefore they are not concentrated around one place.
Fertiliser Industry
Q.26 Name important fertilizers produced in the fertilizer industry.
Ans. The fertiliser industry produce
i. Nitrogenous fertilizers (mainly urea),
ii. Phosphatic fertilizers
iii. Ammonium phosphate (DAP)
iv. Complex fertilizers which have a combination of nitrogen (N), phosphate (P), and

Manufacturing Industries Chapter 6
Q.27 Mention major producer of fertilizer in the country.
Ans. Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Kerala produces half the fertiliser
production.
Cement Industry
Q.28 Which factors has prompted an expansion in the cement industry in India?
Ans. Cement is considered essential for:
i. Decontrol of price and distribution since 1989
ii. Other government policy reforms led to the increase in capacity, process,
technology and production.
iii. Increase in demand due to large scale construction activity such as building
houses, factories, bridges, roads, airports, dams and for other commercial
establishments.
iv. Production of good quality cement and its export to East Asia, Gulf countries and
South Asian countries.
Q.29 Which factors influence the location of cement industry in India?
Ans.
i. Bulky and heavy raw materials like limestone, silica, alumina and gypsum.
ii. Coal and electric power are needed as source of energy.
iii. It also needs good rail transportation.
iv. Port facilities for the export of cement.
Automobile Industry
Q.30 Which factors lead to the growth in the Automobiles industry of our country?
Ans. Automobile industry expanded in last 15 years due to:
i. New economic policy of Liberalization.
ii. Coming in of new and contemporary models.
iii. Foreign Direct Investment brought in new technology.
iv. Industry is now globalised.
Information Technology and Electronics Industry
Q.31 Name the products of electronic industry.
Ans. The electronics industry produces products such as transistors, telephones, cellular
telecom, pagers, telephone exchange, radars, computers and many other types of
equipment required by the telecommunication industry.
Q.32 What is the significance of IT industry in our country?
Ans. The significance of IT industry can be judged by:
i. It is one of the major employments generating industry. Over one million persons
are employed in this industry.
ii. 30 per cent of the people employed in this sector are women.
iii. It is the major foreign exchange earner industry of our country.
iv. Business Processes Outsourcing (BPO) services have been growing rapidly.
Industrial Pollution and Environmental Degradation
Q.33 What is air pollution? Explain how air pollution is caused by the industries. What are
the effects of air pollution?
Ans. Air pollution: the presence of high proportion of undesirable gases (SO2 and CO)
and airborne particulate materials in the air is called air pollution.

Air pollution is caused by -
i. Airborne particulate materials which contain both solid and liquid particles
like dust, sprays mist and smoke causes air pollution.
ii. Smoke emitted by chemical and paper factories, brick kilns, refineries and
smelting plants, and burning of fossil fuels causes air pollution.
iii. Toxic gas leaks from industries causes air pollution. Example the Bhopal Gas
tragedy.
Air pollution adversely affects human health, animals, plants, buildings and the
atmosphere as a whole.
i. Air pollution causes various diseases related to respiratory, nervous and
circulatory systems.
ii. Smoky fog over cities called as urban smog is caused by atmospheric
pollution.
iii. Air pollution can also cause acid rains.
Q.34 How is water pollution caused? Which industries causes the water and land
pollution? What are the effects of water and land pollution?
Ans. Water pollution: Degradation of the quality of water due to high concentrations of
suspended particles, organic and inorganic substances is called water pollution.
Water pollution is caused by -
a. Industrial activities: is the most significant source of water pollution.
i. Industrial wastes, polluted waste water, poisonous gases,
chemical residuals, heavy metals, dust, smoke, etc. causes water pollution.
ii. Most of the industrial wastes are disposed off in running water or
lakes. Consequently, poisonous elements reach the reservoirs,
rivers and other water bodies, which destroy the bio-system of these waters.
iii. Major water polluting industries are leather, pulp and paper,textiles and chemicals.
b. Agricultural activities:
i. Various types of chemicals used in modern agriculture such as
inorganic fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides causes water pollution.
ii. These chemicals are washed down to rivers, lakes, tanks and
under ground water and causes water pollution.
iii. Fertiliser induces an increase in the nitrate content of surface waters.
c. Cultural activities:
i. Such as pilgrimage, religious fairs, tourism, etc. also cause water
pollution. In India, almost all surface water sources are
contaminated and unfit for human consumption.
d. Urban activities:
i. Such as Sewage disposal, urban run-off causes water pollution.
Main effects of water pollution are:
i. Water pollution is a source of various water borne diseases.
ii. The diseases are diarrhea, intestinal worms, hepatitis, etc.
iii. World Health Organisation shows that about 25% of the
communicable diseases in India are water-borne.
Q.35 What is thermal pollution? What are its effects?
Ans. Thermal pollution: It occurs when hot water from factories and thermal plants is
drained into rivers and ponds before cooling.
The effects are:effects
i. Wastes from nuclear power plants, nuclear and weapon production facilities
cause cancers, birth defects and miscarriages.
ii. Dumping of wastes specially glass, harmful chemicals, industrial effluents,
packaging, salts and garbage renders the soil useless.
iii. Rain water percolates to the soil carrying the pollutants to the ground and the ground water also gets contaminated.
Q.36 What is noise pollution? Which industrial units cause noise pollution? What are the effects of noise pollution?
Ans. Noise pollution: The state of high level of noise levels which is unbearable and
uncomfortable to human beings is called noise pollution.Main source of noise pollution are:
i. It is caused by Industrial and construction activities, Machinery and factory
equipments, Generators, Saws, Pneumatic and Electric drills.
ii. Noise from sirens, loudspeakers used in various festivals, programmes
associated with community activities.
iii. The biggest noise pollution is produced by traffic.
Effects of Noise pollution:
i. It results in irritation and anger,
ii. It can also cause hearing impairment,
iii. Increased heart rate and blood pressure among other physiological effects.
iv. Unwanted sound is an irritant and a source of stress.Control of Environmental Degradation
Q.37 How can the industrial pollution of fresh water be reduced?
Ans. Industrial pollution and degradation can be controlled by:
i. Minimizing use water for processing by reusing and recycling it in two or more successive stages.
ii. Harvesting of rainwater to meet water requirements.
iii. Treating hot water and effluents before releasing them in rivers and ponds.
iv. Regulating the overdrawing of ground water reserves by industry.
v. Particulate matter in the air can be reduced by fitting smoke stacks to factories with
electrostatic precipitators, fabric filters, scrubbers and inertial separators.
vi. Smoke can be reduced by using oil or gas instead of coal in factories.
vii. Generators should be fitted with silencers.
viii. Redesigning machineries to increase their energy efficiency and reduce noise.
ix. Noise absorbing material may be used apart from personal use of earplugs and earphones.
Q.38 Explain the three phase of treatment of industrial effluents.
Ans. Treatment of industrial effluents can be done in three phases.
i. Primary treatment by mechanical means. This involves screening, grinding,flocculation and sedimentation.
ii. Secondary treatment by biological process
iii. Tertiary treatment by biological, chemical and physical processes. This involves recycling of waste water.                                                                *******************************